Local groups invited to .IE Digital Town Awards 2023
Prize fund of €100,000 available to help towns develop digitally.
The national registry for .ie domain names, has announced that entries are now open for the .IE Digital Town Awards 2023, and is encouraging Cavan town and community groups to get involved.
Cootehill town was awarded Digital Rising Star at the .IE Digital Town Awards 2022, after using social media and a new website to record the biggest engagement ever for its St Patrick’s Day Parade
This year the awards also welcomes a new partner, Vodafone.
The awards, now in their third year recognise and reward projects created by town groups and local communities that have a digital element, supporting Ireland’s digital development. They also offer a prize fund of €100,000 which is split across the 10 categories.
The .IE Digital Town Awards promote awareness, knowledge, use and understanding of digital by citizens, businesses, and communities.
Winners will be announced at a Gala event on Wednesday, May 24.
Projects submitted for consideration could include building a new town website, launching an App, developing a digital hub/co-working space, investing in digital signage, or providing digital training and workshops for the local community.
The ten categories for entry are:
• Digital Education
• Digital Tourism, sponsored by AIB Merchant Services
• Community Digital, sponsored by the Western Development Commission
• Digital Business, sponsored by Vodafone
• Agri-tech
• Digital Sustainability
• Newcomer
• Digital Rising Star
• Digital Change Maker, sponsored by Connected Hubs
• Digital Local Hero
Welcoming the launch of this year’s awards last week, Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Neale Richmond said: “Digitalising towns promotes innovation and breathes new life into our communities, making them more attractive places to live and work as well as contributing to a more sustainable future.”
Oonagh McCutcheon, National Director, .IE Digital Town Programme added that the purpose of our .IE Digital Town Awards is to reward and honour local towns, community groups and volunteers who go “above and beyond” for their locality, driving digital development and innovations.
“The strength of the entries year on year show how digital innovation is happening in towns across Ireland, driving those towns forward and fuelling local economies. With ten distinct award categories this year, we are excited to see what Ireland has to offer.
“We are also delighted to welcome our new partner, Vodafone, who share our passion for ensuring technology continues to enable and empower communities across Ireland to thrive.”